NEW boy Fode Koita has revealed that one of Rudy Gestede’s last acts at Ewood Park was to convince to him to sign for Blackburn Rovers.

Former France U21s international Koita was on the verge of joining Turkish top-flight outfit Sivasspor after leaving Ligue 1 side Caen in the summer.

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But, after Rovers sounded him out over a possible move to East Lancashire, Gestede insisted it was the only one he should make.

Gestede last week called time on his Ewood career when he completed a £6m switch to Aston Villa.

And now Koita is determined to follow in his friend’s footsteps and reach the Premier League – with Rovers.

The 24-year-old said: “Rudy told me it was a good club, a family club, and a club that has everything for me to progress.

“He said, ‘I’ll tell you something, you should sign here’.

“I had other clubs who wanted me but he told me to sign here because we have a good manager, a good staff and a good team, who all work hard to be better.

“That’s what I want to do – I want to progress.

“I’m very happy for Rudy and I want to follow him and get to the Premier League with Blackburn.

“I will work hard every day to get better.”

Koita, who started out at Montpellier and had loan spells at Lens and Le Havre before moving to Caen two years ago, was recommended to Rovers through contacts of head of player recruitment Tommy Johnson.

The versatile attacker played on the wings for Caen last season, scoring three goals in 22 starts, but he is hoping to make his name in England as a striker.

“I first heard from the club during June and the manager asked me to come to see the training ground and stadium,” said Koita, who made his first appearance for Rovers when he came off the bench in the 3-0 win over Wigan Athletic on Saturday which rounded off their pre-season preparations.

“I said, ‘yes’, because I like England I’ve always wanted to come to play here.

“Now that I’m here, I’m happy and everything is good. There is a good manager, a good staff and a good team.”

Despite Koita’s arrival on a two-year deal Rovers boss Gary Bowyer is still searching for further reinforcements up front after the departure of Gestede.

But Bowyer will not be signing Cardiff City striker Adam Le Fondre.

Rovers were heavily linked with Le Fondre over the weekend.

But the 28-year-old is on the verge of joining Wolves on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent deal next summer.

It has been reported that Wolves will pay the majority of Le Fondre’s wages which are believed to be around £16,000 per week.

Rovers can currently pay no more than £10,000 per week to free transfers and loan signings under the rules of their Financial Fair Play embargo.

If, as expected, Le Fondre’s move to Wolves goes through, he will be in line to make his debut against Rovers on Saturday when the teams go head to head at Ewood in the opening game of the Championship campaign.

Giles Coke, meanwhile, has signed for Ipswich Town.

The midfielder spent time on trial at Rovers earlier this summer.